Gunnar Peterson
Here is a profile of Gunnar Peterson (often cited as a personal trainer / fitness entrepreneur), since publicly available sources suggest he is better known in fitness and business rather than being primarily a conventional “businessman” in other sectors.
(Note: if you meant a different Gunnar Peterson, I can adjust.)
Gunnar Peterson – Life, Career, and Business of Fitness
Learn about Gunnar Peterson — American personal trainer, author, fitness entrepreneur, and business innovator. Explore his journey from training celebrities to building fitness businesses and gear brands.
Introduction
Gunnar Peterson is an American fitness professional, entrepreneur, author, and actor. He’s best known for training high-profile clients (athletes, celebrities), developing fitness equipment, and creating business ventures in the wellness space. Though his domain is predominantly fitness, his role as a “businessman” emerges through his product and brand development, partnerships, and leadership in fitness organizations.
Early Life & Education
Gunnar Peterson was born in Houston, Texas.
He studied at Duke University, graduating (class of 1985) with degrees in Physical Fitness, Psychology, and Nutrition.
These academic foundations gave him both the technical and physiological understanding to build a professional training and fitness business.
Career & Business Ventures
Personal Training & Celebrity Clientele
Peterson built a reputation as a premier trainer, working with professional athletes, film and television stars, and public figures. functional training, making fitness applicable to everyday functional movement, not just aesthetics.
He operates a private training facility (originally in Beverly Hills) and trains several high-profile clients.
In 2022, he took on a leadership role in the fitness franchise F45, becoming their Chief of Athletics and partnering in designing workouts (e.g. DB45 with David Beckham).
Product Development & Fitness Brands
Peterson is not just a trainer — he’s also an inventor and developer of fitness equipment and branded products. Through his company Outside Shot, he has created:
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The Bottom Line™: a total-body exercise machine
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The RAC™: accessory combining weighted upper-body work with spinning movements
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Hoop Hands™: a basketball-focused resistance training tool
He also partners with supplement and wellness companies like BioSteel, MitoQ, PowerBlock, and Jym Supplements.
Furthermore, he has created fitness programs (e.g. Core Secrets series of DVDs), authored books, and appeared as a fitness expert on television and in print media. G-Force, outlines his training philosophy and four “F-words”: Function, Foundation, Freedom, and Focus.
He has been in columns, contributed as editor, and created content for magazines like Muscle & Fitness, Glamour, Fitness Magazine.
Media, Public Profile & Speaking
Peterson frequently appears on television (CNN, E!, Fox & Friends, etc.) to discuss health and fitness.
His dynamic style, humor, and energy are often highlighted in his public image.
Personal Life
He was previously married to Janet Crown (daughter of billionaire Lester Crown); they had three children. Jessica Friedman, with whom he has further children.
Peterson moved with his family to Nashville (relocating from Los Angeles).
His personal health journey (childhood weight struggles) remains part of his motivational narrative.
Philosophy & Public Influence
Peterson’s fitness philosophy stresses function over form: workout methods should translate to real-life movement, strength, and resilience.
His public influence extends beyond individual clients: by designing equipment, partnering with fitness franchises, and sharing his methods widely, he blends hands-on training with scalable business models.